There is one circuit breaker for all my downstairs lights.

Two wall lights have stopped working but the rest of the lighting is OK.

The lights are about 2 metres apart but in different rooms:
- Kitchen light on pull cord
- Hall light with ordinary light switch on the other side of a wall (the switch is in my study and is about equidistant between the 2 lights that are not working

I am not a competent electrician but am willing to try a simple investigation if it is safe:

- Is it reasonable to assume that there is some wiring, coming off the main downstairs lighting circuit, that serves just these 2 lights?

- If there were a fault or disconnection in one of the light sockets or the switch could that stop both lights working? That is the bit I could perhaps check myself.

- Is it more likely that there is a problem with another part of the circuit and would investigation of that most likely entail removal of floorboards from the floor above?

Any help much appreciated.

rickus, October 2008

Thank you Tony
I think that's a possible 'yes' to my second question and an implied 'yes' to the first question.
Any thoughts on the third question from anyone?

rickus, October 2008

I would turn off the lighting circuit first or the whole fuse board if you're not sure which one but the fault could be in the switch or at the lights. The lights are connected together so it will likely go to one light first then the other, as I dont know which was the first one you would be best taking them off the wall one by one and seeing if theres a loose connection either there or at the switch

Tony, October 2008